Well you know I am sadistic... I'll only kill a character when their purpose is served.

However, let me sum up what Buttercup went through. She experienced what's called 'vacuum trauma' by which she was exposed to an explosive decompression so violent that the air was literally ripped from her lungs so fast that it ravaged her lungs from within.

The tissue in your lungs is very tender. Now, imagine a catastrophic rush of air going through them, forcing everything out all at once like an airplane's cabin being burst open in mid-air. That's the sort of thing she went through. It's lucky her lungs didn't explode altogether. But she's a supergirl. She survived it.

The cough is a lasting reminder of battles past. But there are scars from battles ahead that are yet to be carved into her young body...

The cough is a lasting reminder of battles past. But there are scars from battles ahead that are yet to be carved into her young body...

This sounds promising.

And KM, after being exposed to vacuum a normal person would have most likely died, or with plenty of luck survive in critical condition. After such an experience the body is likely to never fully recover.

This post is intended for information only. Please do not reply to this message as responses cannot be read or acknowledged due to the stupidity of the user.

Hello GriddlesI have been following your Fic since day one but never had a account of DA to comment so I’m going to say it now.I LOVE your work….it was you who inspired me to write fan fiction and for that I thank you.

Buttercup growled, "Maybe if this cough gets bad enough I could get out of doing the class talk, heh..." she muttered with grim optimism. She glanced at her hands once she moved them away from her mouth, "Uh oh..."

The Professor grit his teeth, "Go get a tissue and clean up. And no, you're not pulling a sickie on this one. You missed enough class after that fight, anyway." As Buttercup scampered to the kitchen to clean her hands of the blood she coughed up, Utonium added, "Had I known you would have tried something so stupid I would have never let you go..." He clicked the TV onto mute as another story came up of little importance. Some tale of bushfires in far away Australia. He didn't have time to care about Australia. Something else was bugging him, "Bubbles...?"

His blonde-haired child stared up at him with large azure eyes "Mmm?"

"You said when you got home that you got called to the bridge when that car exploded, right?"

"Yeah, it was about halfway through lunchtime. Why?"

Buttercup's voice carried over from the kitchen, "Stupid explosion made me miss the end of the soccer game! Was gonna whup Eddy's ass, too!"

"Mind your language and take that medicine!" Utonium dismissed her with that order. Bubbles continued to stare at him, "Did you happen to hear anything about where those men came from and what they were doing with that convoy?"

Bubbles narrowed her eyes a bit, "Policeman Walker said that they weren't gonna tell him what was in that van. Said it was just bad car maintenance and that was all. He didn't believe them at all, I could tell."

"That man they showed on TV... did you get his name?"

"I don't think he said what his-"

"Because that man is Tobias Beck." Professor Utonium said sternly.

Bubbles' eyes flashed with sudden recognition, "Oh yeah! He said his name was Beck or somethin'... and he didn't look very happy..."

The Professor stared at his little girl right in the eye, "Bubbles... It's not just because the other two are busy, but I think you know by now that despite how many times Buttercup says you're not smart... I trust your opinion very strongly."

"You... you do?"

"You have a very honest insight, Bubbles so right now I need you to tell me what you felt from that man when you saw him. When he spoke, when he moved, even when he made eye contact with people. Do you think" Utonium's glare was intense "that he was hiding something?"

The Professor sighed and sat back, giving Bubbles some space. He'd scared her a little and he cursed silently. He wouldn't get an answer from her if she was worked up. Maybe she didn't have an answer and his reliance upon her open and honest nature might fall short this time. But he had to know. Ever since he saw the man's face on TV, he'd wanted to know. "Beck and I, we... we go way back." he muttered. Bubbles returned a puzzled gaze, unsure where he was going with this. "Back after I'd just graduated, I learned that a few of my classmates were accepted into a specially-funded research company to receive additional training to further their skills with genetic science. Beck was one of them. He was thrilled to be joining an elite group of scientists and I was pleased for him. But after that... for many years after that I'd never heard back from him. It was like he disappeared, altogether, with no trace. I couldn't find any records of the company he joined and nothing indicating his movements or postings. Remember me telling you how I kept track of my classmates? Remember Kira? Yeah... for a while I thought he maybe was dead, but then he shows up on television, denying any knowledge of a major incident and fronting a convoy of unmarked cars escorting a mystery cargo across closed-off roadway. I think... I think it's starting to add up."

as another story came up of little importance. Some tale of bushfires in far away Australia.

Self-criticism is good.

And Bubbly fails at work under pressure, we all know. She'd need some sharper character to be able to deal with all. But for now I didn't see how all the events have left her psyche at. All in all, she'd lost 2 artificial sisters recently, and fought risking her life. Plus in the end she didn't do much. I'd imagine seeing her miserable with realisation of her worthlessness, and perhaps more eager to try harder to make a difference next time.

This post is intended for information only. Please do not reply to this message as responses cannot be read or acknowledged due to the stupidity of the user.

Yep, there's that but Professor shouldn't have been all riled up when he recognized Becky on TV. Yes, Bubbles is honest and all but his approach to get the info he wants was NOT VERY EFFECTIVE. To be super effective, he should have ask Bubbles nicely in a calm, not-so intimidating tone.

Doing what he did just now might make Bubbles "forget everything".

Nice going, Adric.

"Screw the social dogma of the intended demographic. If the show is for little girls then that makes me a bitch." - PanPizza

At this point look like Buttercup is not the strong point of the group anymore. I cant understand all the points but look like she had to experience something horrible really. Hope she left that pride and let her family care for her more.

Next-Gen. wrote:

Griddles wrote:Well you know I am sadistic... I'll only kill a character when their purpose is served.

Bubbles still wasn't getting it, so she had to ask, "Um... what do you think it means?"

The Professor's tone was cautious "I think... I think that man, and all his friends... they're all part of that company, or maybe a branch of it. And if they're working for the government, then that just makes it ten times more bewildering, but... Beck went for a career in genetic research." He shot Bubbles a glare "Human genetic research."

Bubbles gulped "Um... like... clones?"

"More than that, Bubbles. Way more than that. I know there's been chatter about companies working for the government to create special drugs and supplies and all sorts of powerful - and probably very illegal - substances. If they are with the government, either they're doing something very illegal, or..." his voice trailed off.

Bubbles poked him in the thigh, urging him on. "Or what?"

The Professor's tone was dark "Or they've been authorised to create something that nobody has ever seen before. Something world-changing."

"Right... and they could have been carrying anything. Chemicals, files, organisms - even weapons. That explosion was so immense that nothing could have been left."

Bubbles cocked her head, "But... when he spoke to Policeman Walker, it was... it was almost like he was worried about something. They were hiding something but it was more than that... it's like he was afraid that something bad was going to happen in the future."

The Professor grinned, "Well, I don't think his boss would have had happy words for him afterward..."

"Maybe, but..." Bubbles stared at the muted television, paying no heed to the images that lit her wide sky-blue eyes, "I remember looking at him and almost feeling something from him as he finished talking and went back to his friends to chat. The way he moved and acted... it was in his eyes, too... like... he was afraid he was going to die."

The Professor chuckled a bit, rubbing the golden crown of her head gently, "You've definitely got the gift of spotting subtleties, Bubbles... but I don't think they'd kill him over a car accident. Perhaps this power of yours isn't quite accurate all the time."

Bubbles' gaze seemed so innocent, "But I swear that's what it felt like."

Utonium grinned, "Well, whatever it was, it's out of your hands as much as it is out of mine." He blinked "Oh... next time you see Walker, wish him luck from me. Being promoted to assistant to the Chief Commissioner is a big step!"

Bubbles grinned back "I will!"

The Professor took her hand in his "What's past is past, now." He turned off the TV and smiled at her pretty face "How about a nice warm bath and then I'll help you with your class talk before bedtime?"

Bubbles nearly squealed with delight. She loved it when the Professor fawned over her "Ok!"

He scooped Bubbles up in his arms and carried her toward the staircase "Fruit-scent bubblebath today? Or shall we try the honey-vanilla one instead?"

"Fruit one, fruit one!"

The Professor chuckled at her vigor, leaving his concerns about her new power and the reports on the news behind, "As you wish!"

Hello there! Have you been visiting GamefanPPG's gallery? Actually, just look at one of the avatars here. Also, nice to see you back Griddles! I apologize for the belated greetings. I just had nothing else worthy to say then...well, this. And just in time for the slowness to end!

god damn, griddles your fanfics are awesome.I just finished your "Reunification" series on deviant art, and I must say it was one of the best fanfics I've ever read. (that little fan service you did in "Nano nano nano" was also incredibly hilarious )Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go back and enjoy this new fanfic. Keep it up!

JesusChrist wrote:And Jesus saw himself in the cross thinking

"THIS is what I gave my life to save?"

Spirit. In every language in all the Realms, surface and Underdark, in every time and every place, the word has a ring of strength and determination. It is the hero's strength, the mother's resilience, and the poor man's armor. It cannot be broken, and it cannot be taken away. - Drizzt Do'Urden, Ranger of Mielikki